A Dangote Refinery safety warning threatens sanctions on marketers as leaking fuel tankers pose mounting risks at Africa’s largest refinery

Management of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has issued a Dangote Refinery safety warning to petroleum marketers after a rise in leaking fuel trucks arriving at its loading gantry, calling the trend a serious threat to the multibillion dollar facility.

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In an internal notice circulated by the Group Commercial Operations Department, the refinery said it was alarmed by what it described as a disturbingly high number of product laden tankers showing up in poor mechanical condition.

Despite repeated warnings and fines, several trucks still arrived with cracked valves, loose fittings and dripping fuel, raising the risk of fire at Africa’s largest refinery.

The refinery said the situation had reached an unacceptable level and would no longer be tolerated.

It warned that any leaking tanker would attract immediate fines and expose the responsible marketer to severe sanctions, including temporary suspension from loading operations.

According to the circular, the tough measures are intended to protect the facility from danger.

The management appealed to marketers to deploy only healthy and properly maintained trucks, stressing that no excuse would be accepted for safety lapses.

Nigeria’s petroleum distribution network has long battled the use of ageing tanker fleets, many of which fail safety checks or lack basic maintenance.

Regulators, including the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, have pushed for stricter compliance, but enforcement has remained weak.

The warning comes amid a worsening tanker safety crisis nationwide. Federal Road Safety Corps data show that at least 80 tanker fire explosions occurred between January 2020 and January 2025, claiming 555 lives and injuring many more.

Broader national figures point to over 100 fatal tanker accidents killing more than 1,500 people.

In 2024 alone, 13 tanker explosions killed 85 people, while NEMA recorded devastating incidents such as the Jigawa blast in October 2024 that claimed more than 150 lives.

In January 2025, an overturned tanker exploded near Dikko in Niger State, killing 86 people, many of whom attempted to scoop fuel from the wreckage.

The FRSC also revealed that 411 Nigerians died in 2024 while attempting to scoop fuel from fallen tankers.

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Dangote Refinery’s move to blacklist marketers using dilapidated tankers signals a potentially powerful shift, one that could push operators to upgrade their fleets, improve maintenance and comply with basic safety standards.